AMC's Dark Winds is a crime series that has pulled in viewers with its storyline set in the American Southwest. It's based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels and offers a raw, mysterious setting rich in Navajo culture and traditions.
The show features Native American characters, especially from Navajo Nation, whose stories don't always get the spotlight in mainstream media. Zahn McClarnon, who plays Lt. Joe Leaphorn, mentioned that it was a big deal to tell this story from a Native point of view. Set in the 1970s, the series mixes Hillerman’s world with real culture, thanks to an all-Indigenous production team.
The teamwork between cultural advisors and the production crew was important for getting the Navajo traditions right. With their focus on authenticity, the show has gotten both love and criticism.
How authentic is Dark Winds?
George R. Joe, the cultural advisor for the show, shared with the Los Angeles Times on August 6, 2023, that he had to learn a lot on the job.
Even though he didn't have much experience in the film world, his roots as a full-blooded Navajo and his fluency in the language helped set the show's tone. Joe got to dive into the production of Dark Winds, working with all sorts of teams, from props and wardrobe to set design and script feedback. He shaped how cultural scenes, like traditional hairstyles and ceremonies, came across on screen.
The show ran into some cultural bumps when it came to featuring Navajo Skinwalkers. Since Skinwalkers are a big part of Navajo beliefs, how they're depicted in media can stir up controversy in the community. Hence, Joe stated that they decided to leave them out of Dark Winds.
Joe pointed out how the show tried to offer a fair and respectful look at Navajo life:
“It truly took a village.”
However, not everyone was of the opinion the show got the cultural portrayal right. In a 2022 article from the Navajo Times, traditional weaver and silversmith Zefren Anderson said that Dark Winds comes off more like a “Tony Hillerman fantasy” than a true-to-life depiction.
Anderson liked the show for its entertainment but thought it made Navajo culture seem a bit too polished and symbolic, instead of showing what their actual life is like.
Balancing fiction and reality in Dark Winds
The creative team for Dark Winds had a tough job trying to blend Hillerman’s stories with real Navajo life. In the 2022 interview with the Navajo Times, director Chris Eyre admitted that even though they aimed for authenticity, there were times when they didn’t quite hit the mark.
Eyre said the showrunners were focused on getting better with every season.
"It’s critically important to all of us that we represent the culture correctly,” said Eyre.
He acknowledged that there were some language mistakes and cultural misrepresentations.
In response to the feedback, the production team brought on more Navajo consultants and worked hard to include more Native actors, writers, and crew members.
“This is all done in the most respectful way, but again, we’re working with actors and interpreters and different dialects,” Eyre explained.
Even with the aforementioned challenges, Dark Winds has been getting a lot of love for its fresh take on storytelling from a Native American point of view.
With over 95% of its cast being Indigenous actors, the show is a big win for the visibility and representation of Native communities in mainstream media. Actor Zahn McClarnon noted that Dark Winds moves past the old, harmful stereotypes that have often shaped how Native American characters are portrayed.
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The show is available to stream on AMC and AMC+.
Stay tuned to Soap Central for the latest updates on Dark Winds, including episode recaps, and behind-the-scenes insights.
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